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At the end of January 2022, we settled a personal injury claim that we started nearly a decade ago. It was the last of three claims brought on behalf of the same family, whose lives were changed forever when they were involved in a road traffic collision on 6 July 2013 – which  occurred when the vehicle they were travelling in was hit head-on, at speed, by a car whose driver had become distracted and veered into their lane.  

The consequences of the accident were devastating. Our first client, Emma, was left in a wheelchair for nearly 12 months. Our second client, William, Emma’s five year old son, suffered only minor physical injuries but deep psychological trauma. And our third client, Hannah, Emma’s nine year old daughter, was left fighting for her life having sustained a severe spinal injury, a tear to a blood vessel in her abdomen and damage to her bowel.  

It has taken close to nine years to settle Hannah’s case because it is always difficult to predict how an injury will affect a child as they develop and grow, and which means that the best approach will usually be to wait until they enter adulthood to see what happens. 

Outcome of case

The compensation secured by our serious injury expert, Abid Hussain, to reflect the family’s pain and suffering, and the additional costs and expenses they have incurred, is significant – with Hannah’s compensation alone running close to £500,000. 

But that is not the reason for sharing details of their case. What has promoted us to do that is the heartfelt testimonial that we have recently received from Emma’s husband, Damian, about the difference the support we have given the family over the past few years has made to their lives, as they have attempted to come to terms with what has happened and to move forward.  

Here is his testimonial in full:

“When I first met Abid, I was in Sheffield Children’s Hospital, where Hannah had been transferred given the critical nature of her injuries. He had come to see me on the recommendation of my brother-in-law, whose business partner was good friends with him. 

I felt totally overwhelmed at the enormity of what had happened and what might lie ahead. I had no idea what to do or who to turn to for help and support – other than my elderly mother, who was looking after William while I was with Hannah, and while Emma was in hospital in Grimsby.

I know it sounds odd, bearing in mind I had never met him before, but Abid was such a comfort to me at that desperate time; and he has continued to be a comfort for the past nine years.

He is not what you imagine a lawyer to be. Yes, he is professional and exceptionally good at what he does, but he is also a normal person like you and me, who is affected by peoples suffering and who genuinely wants to do all he can to try to help and to soften the blow. 

I still remember meeting him for the first time and feeling what I can only describe as a huge sense of relief – not because he promised that he would secure us the compensation we deserved for what had happened, but because of his assurance that he would put me in touch with a network of people who could help to aid my family’s recovery and provide us with the practical and emotional support that we would need during the tough weeks, months and years ahead. He knew the challenges we were going to face before they arose, and that was because he had helped families like us before and so could anticipate what was to come. 

I even remember him giving me a hug during that first hospital visit to reassure me that everything was going to be ok. It was a simple gesture, but one that gave me more comfort at that time than you can ever imagine. 

And Abid was true to his word, because within a matter of days he had put the wheels in motion to get us the help that we needed. This even included arranging for us to have access to our own dedicated nurse, who specialised in accident rehabilitation and who we could call on whenever needed to arrange any treatment, care or therapy that was required. Hannah, in particular, benefited enormously from this and has managed to make an extraordinary recovery as a result of the early interventions that Abid helped to arrange. 

I should also add that Abid got the insurance company for the driver of the car who caused the accident to admit liability at an early stage, and to pay us an advance of the compensation we would eventually receive. This was a godsend as it enabled me to take a step away from work for a while to help my family’s recovery and to support Hannah, who by this stage had been fitted with a surgical back brace, which meant that she was unable to do anything for herself. 

While none of us will ever completely get over what happened, we are all now making good progress and that is due in no small part to the invaluable advice and support that Abid and his team have provided to us over the years. Hannah is still suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and experiences regular back pain and mobility issues, but with the compensation she has received she at least now has the security of knowing that she is in a position to pay for any ongoing care or treatment that she may require. 

And the same goes for Emma and William, who also received significant compensation payouts totalling in excess of £1 million. 

Abid truly is a remarkable man, and my family and I will forever be grateful for all that he has done for us during what has been an incredibly difficult and challenging period in our lives.”

Contact us

If you have been injured in a road traffic collision – or any other type of accident that was not your fault – and you would like support from our highly experienced personal injury team, then please call us on 0800 195 6412. We offer a free, no obligation consultation and no win, no fee funding in most cases so you can make a claim without having to worry about legal costs.